Accounting firm on local officials' radar

The firm that did city of Bell's auditing is also a longtime auditor of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.

December 09, 2010|By Mike Reicher, mike.reicher@latimes.com

The same accounting firm that audited the city of Bell also audited Newport Beach and Costa Mesa for many years. In the coming weeks, the state controller's office will release a report that evaluates whether the company adhered to government standards when it assessed Bell's records.

Local officials will be watching the results closely.

Mayer Hoffman McCann, a national accounting firm, has audited Newport Beach for about the past 10 years and Costa Mesa for about the past 20 years, officials said. While Controller John Chiang's office is not investigating other Mayer Hoffman jobs, the results of the Bell scandal could affect future local contracts.

"If they are found to not have adhered to standards we would have to take a closer look," said Costa Mesa Assistant Finance Director Colleen O'Donoghue.

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Both Newport Beach and Costa Mesa plan to solicit proposals for auditors next year, a regular process unrelated to Bell.

Newport's auditing contract with Mayer Hoffman was renewed in April for one year, and will be up again next spring for the fiscal year ending June 2011. Typically, the city's auditor has been hired on a four-year contract because of the time and expenses involved in briefing a new auditing company.

During each of the last four years Mayer Hoffman billed the city between approximately $40,000 and $55,000 for auditing and other accounting services.

Some of the Newport City Council members say they were unaware of the company's connection to Bell.

Well-versed in public accounting, Councilman Mike Henn was the chief financial officer of Vons Companies and K.B. Home, and Mayor Keith Curry is a director at a municipal finance company. They both serve on the city's finance committee.

"I'm not aware that any of the issues that may have been involved in Bell have any relevance here," Curry said. "I will ask staff to look at the matter and assure the council that we're receiving top-quality service."

Henn said he personally reviewed the draft financial statements for the past few years and is confident with their quality.

Newport Beach recently received top bond ratings for its new Civic Center financing.

In Costa Mesa, Mayer Hoffman and its predecessor, Conrad & Associates, billed the city approximately $50,000 each year for the last two years, according to O'Donoghue. She said the firm's five-year contract was renewed for a one-year extension earlier this year.